A plant fair in a small Shropshire village has raised around £7,000 for charity.

Competitive bidding for 40 lots of rare specimen plants from garden owners, specialist nursery breeding programmes and seven private National Collection holders across North Shropshire and the Cheshire border raised more than £900 towards the total in a ‘special plants’ auction.

In excess of 3,000 plants were sold on the day at the ninth annual plant fair, which packed out the Parish Hall  at Welshampton in Shropshiore, as well as three marquees. The event, which raised £6,500 last year, has contributed more than £30,000 to charity before this year’s takings are added to the total.

The proceeds will be divided between Shropshire Macmillan Cancer Support and St Michael and All Angels Church in Welshampton.

The annual event, which attracts gardeners from far and wide, is a big community effort, with around 40 local people helping on the day and a dedicated team of nine gardeners growing plants to be sold for charity.

The ‘special plants’ auction was conducted by Andrew Beeston, senior auctioneer and valuer at Halls, Shrewsbury, who also produced a catalogue of the lots on offer.

“It was an absolutely amazing day,” said event co-ordinator Gillian Eleftheriou. “It was our busiest ever fair, with long queues to get in and to pay, but the friendly atmosphere was fantastic.

“Everybody was so generous with their donations of select specimen plants for the auction and the donors were delighted that every penny from the sale is going to charity. We have been very privileged to receive new plants to launch at each of our auctions and this year was no exception.

“Gardeners like to buy these plants because they know that leading plantsmen have put their heart and soul into growing them.

“The fair is exceptional in bringing together expert professionals and dedicated amateur growers to offer a huge choice of ornamental perennials, annuals and vegetables, along with sound advice. It’s also unique because there’s nowhere in the country that has the variety and quality of plants on offer at such attractive prices.”

Andrew Humphris, head gardener at Wollerton Old Hall, received an ovation after giving his top tips on prolonging colour into high summer and beyond in a talk titled “August Pzzazz the Wollerton Way”.

Above: The Welshampton plant growing team with speaker Andrew Humphris in one of the marquees before the sale.